For this list I'm just going to talk about some films that have entertained me in some fashion. Some are weird, some are concerning, some are kind of dumb but all of them are pretty good (in my book at least) and are something you may want to consider checking out.
Tusk
This is a very strange film that was given to us by director Kevin Smith, who has also blessed us with cinematic gems like "Clerks", "Mallrats", "Chasing Amy" and more. This movie, however, is pretty different from his other films. It's a comedy-horror film that was pretty much based on a weird flyer that was discussed on his podcast, and let me tell you- it's a freaking hoot. The main character of this flick is a podcaster named Wallace who is kind of an Internet shitlord; he tends to make fun of people over his podcast and doesn't really seem to care about the consequences his jokes have. After an interview for his podcast fails, he travels to Canada and meets an old man with a wildly interesting story that he wants to discuss over the air, but the old man isn't all that he seems and soon Wallace finds himself in a very twisted and dire situation. I don't want to give up too much about this movie, because it is so weird and so wild that it has to be seen to be believed. Now, keep in mind this IS a horror film, so there is gore associated and some shocking imagery but honestly, maybe I'm sick in the brain for saying this but I love this movie and I think it's grossly hilarious. When I watch "Tusk" I'm not sure if I'm more disgusted, confused, or in utter disbelief at the things being burned into my retinas while watching this, but it does make me laugh and laugh hard. "Tusk" was originally supposed to be the 1st in a trilogy of crazy films that take place in Canada, but I don't think the full trilogy was ever finished. The second movie in the trilogy was a little flick called "Yoga Hosers" and while it was weird, I do feel that "Tusk" was the better of the two, and honestly could be a standalone film. If you want to see something crazy that will make you wonder how in the actual hell something like that was ever made, I highly recommend "Tusk". And extra bonus- it's currently on Netflix. So all of you who are staying at home to avoid the evil 'Rona- stop watching "Tiger King" for the 5th time and check out this train wreck.
The Witch
I can't remember if I've discussed this movie in previous blogs, but this one bears being brought up again. "The Witch" is probably one of the best horror/thriller movies I've seen in a long time. The story is about a Puritan family that is excommunicated from their village because of their extreme beliefs and opinions (extreme to a Puritan? Is that even possible?), and they go to make a home for themselves in the woods. Little do they know something dark lurks in the forest, and soon the evil that is all around them permeates the family's sanity and trust of one another, leading them to spiral into paranoia and fervent panic.This film is brilliant- I can't recommend this one enough. The movie is also billed as "The Witch: A New England Folktale" and that's exactly how it plays out. It's legitimately like that of a film version of some random folktale from the 1700's; like something you'd read from Washington Irving. All of the dialog is in Old English, so it adds to the tone of the story and really draws you into the world that the story establishes. It's interesting to see how paranoia and fervent religious reactions can affect a family when tragedy strikes. This movie is a thinker, for sure. The ending leaves a lot of space for the viewer to draw their own conclusions to what the film is about, and what the director was trying to say and I personally love a movie that will make me think. I can't recommend this one enough- if you don't mind scary stories that are heavy on disturbing imagery and mind games verses all out gore and mindless torture, this is a movie for you.
Eagle vs. Shark
Moving on to something a little lighter! Anyone who knows me knows that I love quirky humor- movies like "Napoleon Dynamite" or "The Greasy Strangler" are my jam. And as someone who loves quirky humor, I am a fan of the work of director Taika Waititi. This dude is freaking amazing. I honestly could recommend all of this work- "Flight of the Conchords", "What We Do In The Shadows" and even "Thor: Ragnarok". I'm not a huge fan of the Marvel movies but I will say that "Thor: Ragnarok" is pretty solid and I love it. But one of my favorite things Mr. Waititi has done is "Eagle vs. Shark".The movie focuses on Lily, a socially awkward outcast who is pining over nerdy-tech-store-clerk Jarrod. She gets a sort-of invitation to an Animal Party Jarrod is hosting, and while there the two start a very strange relationship. Lily soon learns that Jarrod is not the nicest guy in the world, and through a few ups and downs Lily forges a stronger sense of self-acceptance, and her growth starts a chain reaction of positive changes and a new sense of clarity for and in the people around her, which leads to healing all around. Jarrod also learns this lesson, all while seeking the ultimate revenge against his ultimate foe.
This movie is wacky, but it's really heartfelt and is actually kind of heartwarming. I'm usually not into Rom Coms but I make an exception for this one.
Blue Valentine
Oh, "Blue Valentine"... Okay, so this one I will say is a harsh movie. Not in terms of disturbing or shocking imagery or plot or anything like that, but this film is deeply depressing. Now, just because it's depressing doesn't mean it's not good. The film is actually pretty brilliant- it's well acted, well directed, and well written. Typically I don't just consider films to be solely for entertainment- they're also pieces of art that are created to say or convey something, and are generally supposed to evoke some sort of emotion from the viewer. This film hits all of those requirements. It's amazing, but damn- it will absolutely rip your heart out.
The film follows a couple through their relationship. You see how these two young lovers came
together and fall in love, but the whole middle part of their relationship is never shown. The film also shoots forward into the present to show that the two lovers did end up getting married, but their relationship is deteriorating fast. It's incredibly jarring, and I think that's the point. Anyone who has ever been in loves knows the all consuming giddiness of falling in love, and the power of mutual attraction is so strong and so raw, and in contrast the same can be said about falling out of love in terms of the strength of the feelings associated with it. The pain, the anger, the disgust- all of those really nasty feelings are equally strong. In viewing this movie, both sets of conflicting emotions are fully portrayed to the viewer, and I would be absolutely shocked if someone can watch this and NOT feel something. If you can prepare your mind and emotions for this roller coaster, I highly recommend it, even if it's a film you can only watch once.
The Room
Oh man, what can be said about "The Room"? This movie is considered one of the worst films ever made; the "Citizen Kane" of bad movies, if you will. The movie has become a cult icon over the years and for good reason. It's so odd it's worth watching to see what happens next. So many things happen and don't happen at the same time- it's a visual juxtaposition and I love it so much. Apparently a lot of people do, also- even big name stars like Alec Baldwin, Kristen Bell, and more. James Franco even actually made a movie based off the book "The Disaster Artist" that is literally about the making of "The Room". Seriously, "The Disaster Artist" is a great film on it's own, but it's definitely a love letter to fans of "The Room". If you don't look up any other movie I'm discussing in this post you NEED to find this one and watch it. And if life ever goes back to normal after this outbreak "The Room" is definitely a candidate for having a movie night with friends. It's hilarious.
The whole plot of "The Room" can be summed up in a few sentences, but there is just too much to discuss- like, this movie is loaded with insanely quotable lines that are either nonsensical or are completely over-acted. It's a magical cinematic ride, let me tell you. I won't discuss this film further. I will say, if you want to know more about it, clearly you have Internet access if you're reading this- go to YouTube and look up some reviews of it. They're all hilarious, but they don't even put a candle to the full insanity of "The Room".
Cats
Yes, THAT "Cats". The one that everyone panned and memed to death. Is it a good movie? I wouldn't say it is necessarily, but the film does completely take your mind off of whatever is going on in your life for a little while, so that's something of a plus I would say.
For those who don't know, "Cats" is the cinematic adaptation of the Broadway stage play of the same name. In general, "Cats" doesn't have much in the way of an actual story. Basically it's just about a bunch of different cats who introduce themselves through song, and at the end of the story the leader cat Old Deuteronomy decides which cat gets to go to the "Heaviside Layer" to be reborn in a new life. And that's it- that's pretty much the point of "Cats". Now, I will give the film credit- they did try to explain why the different cats are competing for death, and there is an actual villain with a sort-ofplot- it's all really paper thin and one note, but at least they tried to give this thing a story.
I found "Cats" to be a surreal musical fever dream that made me feel things, both good and bad. I will say though, as much as I enjoyed the absolute CGI insanity, all of the negative critiques about the movie were valid. You never really get used to the CGI cat bodies that seem more naked than the characters actually being naked, the strange imagery and sort-of story- it's nuttier than a fruitcake, y'all. But, having said that, I enjoyed the singing, I enjoyed the actual pathos in some scenes, and I thought it was really a brave move by the filmmakers to even tackle this. Honestly, considering how weird "Cats" the play is, I honestly can't think of a better way to tackle a film adaptation of it than how they did. Having said that, this is a perfect example of why some things shouldn't be adapted and are better left alone, but by George this team owned it. No one phoned it in, everyone was clearly committed, so snaps for them.
Well guys, I guess that's all for now. Thanks for reading this little list, and I hope you really do check out some of these little oddities; they're honestly all really enjoyable for one reason or another. Give 'em a chance- you have nothing better to do in quarantine anyway, am I right?
